This raw chicken cat food recipe is complete and balanced for adult cats. I use whole foods and minimal supplements to complete the recipe.
You can get most ingredients at the grocery store. And you’ll have to buy a few things online. But it’s very simple!
This raw chicken cat food recipe is:
- High protein, low carb
- Chicken-based with whole foods
- Free from grains, gluten, and synthetic supplements
- Made without bones, so you donβt need a grinder

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Raw chicken cat food recipe
This recipe is formulated to be complete and balanced to AAFCO guidelines for healthy adult cats.
Chicken is the main ingredient, with a few other protein sources to make this a complete and balanced meal.
I’ve included product links within the ingredients list below of what I use and recommend.
Raw chicken cat food recipe ingredients:
- 9.36 oz (265.49 gm) boneless chicken thigh (meat only)
- 7.71 oz (218.64 gm) chicken heart
- 7.16 oz (203.02 gm) boneless chicken thigh (meat and skin)
- 3.31 oz (93.7 gm) chicken liver
- 1.12 oz (31.62 gm) cooked blue mussels (substitution below if you cannot source these)
- 1.1 oz (31.23 gm) sardines canned in water, no salt
- 1-2 egg yolks (27.54 gm)
- 0.55 oz (15.62 gm) canned oysters
- 2 teaspoons (5.92 gm) Animal Essentials Seaweed Calcium (Amazon, Chewy)
- 1-1/4 teaspoon (5.51 gm) wheat germ oil
- 1-1/4 teaspoon (5.51 gm) nutritional yeast
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.65 gm) sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.65 gm) Maine Coast Sea Seasonings Dulse
If any items are out of stock, use that item as an example of what to look for either locally or online. Check out where to buy cat food ingredients for my favorite places to buy meat ingredients.
Please note that converting grams to teaspoons isn’t always an exact match. I like to use this calculator.
You don’t have to go crazy trying to get the amounts to the exact decimal. These are just the numbers that the formulator populates when resizing to 7 days.
Nutritional benefits of this cat food recipe
Every ingredient in this recipe has a purpose.
My goal is to make recipes as simple as possible using whole food ingredients that offer high-quality nutrition. I’ve included a few substitutions below if needed.
- Chicken meat is high in protein, provides fat, and helps fulfill important vitamin and mineral requirements
- Hearts are high in taurine and other essential nutrients
- Liver helps to fulfill essential vitamins and minerals
- Blue mussels fulfill manganese requirements
- Sardines are rich in healthy fats and vitamin D
- Egg yolks add healthy fat, trace nutrients, and fulfill choline requirements
- Oysters provide necessary zinc
- Seaweed calcium brings calcium up so that the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is what’s recommended
- Wheat germ oil fulfills vitamin E requirements
- Nutritional yeast provides potassium and B vitamins
- Sea salt fulfills chloride requirements
- Dulse provides necessary iodine
The meat and egg yolks make up 97.8% of this recipe. So the additional supplements (seaweed calcium, wheat germ, nutritional yeast, salt, and dulse) are only 2.2% of this recipe.

Guaranteed analysis of this recipe
Composition | As formulated | Dry matter |
---|---|---|
Protein | 17.53% | 58.96% |
Fat | 9.78% | 32.88% |
Ash | 1.89% | 6.36% |
Moisture | 70.26% | |
Fiber | 0.21% | 0.72% |
Net Carbs | 0.32% | 1.09% |
Ca:P | 1.11:1 |
Note: Ash = minerals. This PDF has a full nutritional analysis of this recipe.
How to make this DIY raw cat food recipe
- All meat in this recipe should be served raw. Practice proper food safety and hygiene while preparing raw foods.
- Wash your hands, utensils, dishes, and surface areas with hot water and soap.
- Remove any bones from meat. Cut up larger chunks of meat into smaller pieces. Use a food processor or blender to mix all ingredients together.
- Preportion daily servings in sealed containers. Store any portions you will not use within 48 hours in freezer-safe containers and put in the freezer until you need it.
- Thaw raw food in the refrigerator ~24 hours before you need it. If you need to thaw food quickly, put the sealed container of food in a larger dish full of cold water. Do not thaw raw food at room temperature on the counter. Do not use a microwave.
- Serve all juices in the container when you feed.
Check out my meal prep list on Amazon for other supplies.
Please note that cats are very cautious (not picky!) about new foods. Make a plan to transition to any new food slowly.

How much to feed your cat
This recipe is formulated to feed a 10 pound altered adult cat for 7 days. Feeding amounts vary depending on the individual cat.
Please adjust the feeding amount according to your cat’s weight, body condition score, and individual needs.
kcal information for this recipe
Total kcal in recipe | 1,445.69 |
kcal / oz | 45.20 |
kcal per pound | 723.18 |
kcal / day | 206.53 |
Recipe makes # of days | 7 |
kcal / kg | 1,594.30 |
Amount to feed per day (gm) | 129.54 |
Amount to feed per day (oz) | 4.57 |
You will have to adjust feeding amounts based on your individual cat. See how much to feed your cat for more instructions.

Substitutions for this raw cat food recipe
- Blue mussels: if you cannot source blue mussels, use 2 teaspoons ground ginger per batch.
I realize that cats are carnivores and would not eat ground ginger in the wild. However, ginger is a great source of manganese. And it’s a whole food ingredient that most people can get at their local grocery store. If you do not use blue mussels or ginger, this recipe will be deficient in manganese.
- Animal Essentials Seaweed Calcium: use eggshell powder instead. Use the same exact amount.
If these ingredients do not work for you, I’d suggest using a different recipe. This recipe is complete and balanced as is.
I use Animal Diet Formulator to formulate recipes. However, this one is a bit more advanced and requires a monthly payment.
For beginners who want to formulate recipes, I highly recommend Paws of Prey Cat Meal Formulator. It’s very easy to use, includes a sample recipe, and it’s a one-time payment!
Still need help? Check out how to make homemade cat food for a more detailed guide.
Note: This recipe is a general guideline for educational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. It is the cat parent’s responsibility to discuss any diet changes with their cat’s veterinarian. This recipe was formulated to AAFCO guidelines for a healthy adult cat weighing 10 pounds.